Tributes mount at Jade Goody home

Hundreds of people have visited Jade Goody's house to pay tribute to the reality TV star, who died of cancer on Sunday, aged 27.

More than 100 bouquets of flowers have been left at the gates, along with candles and messages of condolence.

Goody died at home with her family in Upshire, Essex after a high-profile battle with cervical cancer.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown led tributes to the star praising her as "a courageous woman".

Mr Brown said he was "deeply saddened" by the news of her death, adding: "The whole country has admired her determination to provide a bright future for her children.

Stephen Chittenden, 5 live reporter

Today there has been a steady flow of people carrying flowers up the narrow lane to the house where Jade Goody lived and died.

The pile of bouquets, balloons and toys laid outside her house now stretches down the driveway and around the corner, and onto a grassy embankment. Police community support officers, brought in to control the visitors' traffic, have also taken on the job of arranging the flowers.

This morning Jade's mother Jackie Budden came out to admire the flowers and read some of the messages of condolence.

She thanked people and told onlookers "they are absolutely beautiful, if Jade saw this she'd be overwhelmed, it just shows how many people loved her".

"She will be remembered fondly by all who knew her and her family can be extremely proud of the work she has done to raise awareness of cervical cancer, which will benefit thousands of women across the UK."

'Inspiration'

Goody's mother Jackiey Budden, who was at her side as she died, said: "My beautiful daughter is at peace. Family and friends would like privacy at last."

Ms Budden said her daughter would have been "overwhelmed" by the number of tributes being left outside the house.

She thanked everyone who had left a message and said she planned to write personally to those who had left an address.

Jackie Marron was among those at the gates. She described Goody's work to highlight the risks of cancer as an "inspiration".

I am deeply saddened by the news

Shilpa Shetty

"The way she's done her things is absolutely fantastic... her courage, her guts," she added.

Details of the star's funeral have yet to be finalised but Goody's publicist Max Clifford said it was likely to be a "celebration" of her life.

Her cortege is expected to process through Loughton - near her home - after a church service, he said.

Goody shot to fame as a contestant in the third series of Big Brother in 2002, and was taking part in the Indian version of the show when she was told of her diagnosis.

The disease spread to her liver, groin and bowel and she was told it was terminal in February.

Jeff Brazier, father of Goody's two sons Bobby, five, and Freddy, four said he was "grateful the boys were able to say their goodbyes and spend that precious time with their wonderful mother".

"Bobby and Freddie are my absolute priority and I will be doing everything I can to be their rock and to give them all my love and support to get them through a confusing and upsetting time."

Media interest

She was a very, very brave girl and she faced her death in the way she faced her whole life - full on, with a lot of courage

Goody's illness had featured in the media on a daily basis and she allowed digital TV channel Living to film her treatment as well as documenting her wedding to partner Jack Tweed a month before her death.

OK! magazine also paid a reported £700,000 to cover the event.

Writing on the mini-blog website Twitter, Stephen Fry called Goody "a kind of Princess D from the wrong side of the tracks".

The pair met while guests on Jonathan Ross' BBC chat show. Fry said: "Poor, dear Jade... I warmed to her immensely. All impulsive spirit and smiles. What a life.

"Jade lived life under a magnifying glass. Magnifying glasses magnify (obviously) but they distort and they burn."

A former dental nurse, Goody experienced the double-edged sword of fame when she appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2007.

She was accused of being racist after several heated rows with Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.

Goody was determined to not to hide away during her illness

Racing commentator John McCririck, a former Celebrity Big Brother contestant, said: "She brought out one of the most serious problems in this country, the inherent racism... that people try and keep quiet.

"It's about people who don't know they are racist but when they're losing an argument with somebody who's Asian or a black person they go back to the old stereotypes, and she did that."

Goody later said she was "embarrassed and disgusted" by her own behaviour.

Goody and Shetty later resolved their differences, and were reunited on India's Bigg Boss.

In a statement from Mumbai, Shetty said: "I am deeply saddened by the news but in hindsight glad she is out of pain and passed away peacefully in her sleep."

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